Item: Between Two Cities Stonemaier
Rating: 76
Author: Dinsun

Our Expert Score

76/100

Between Two Cities is a masterful digital port of the Stonemaier Games classic, successfully translating the unique 'semi-cooperative' tile-drafting mechanics to the mobile screen. The core hook remains brilliant: you aren't just building one city; you're building two simultaneously with the players sitting to your left and right. This creates a fascinating social dynamic where you must balance your resources and attention, as your final score is determined by the lower-scoring of your two cities. It’s a game of constant negotiation and 'tugging' at your neighbors to ensure neither city falls behind.

The digital implementation by DTDA Games is clean and functional. The iconography for the different building types—factories, shops, parks, and landmarks—is distinct, which is crucial for a game where scoring depends on specific adjacency and set-collection rules. While the UI can feel a bit snug on smaller phone screens due to the amount of information displayed, the iPad version shines. The inclusion of solo play and online multiplayer adds significant longevity to a game that already feels infinitely replayable due to the drafting nature and varied city layouts. It is a must-have for board game enthusiasts looking for a quick, 20-minute strategic fix.

Dinsun reviewed on: Wed Feb 26 2025

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

1566544458

$1.99 4+★3.8 4 reviews

Author : DTDA Games

Pubish Date : Tue May 18 2021

Last Update Date : Fri Jan 02 2026

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 0.6.1Fri Jan 02 2026

What's new :
- UI ajustements for ranking panel
Between Two Cities is a partnership-driven tile-drafting game in which each tile represents part of a city: factory, shop, park, landmarks, etc. You work with the player on your left to design the heart of one city, and with the player on your right to design the heart of another city. On each turn you select two tiles from hand, reveal them, then work with your partners separately to place one of those tiles into each of your two cities before passing the remaining hand of tiles around the table.
At the end of the game, each city is scored for its livability. Your final score is the lower of the livability scores of the two cities you helped design. To win, you have to share your attention and your devotion between two cities. The player with the highest final score wins the game.
The game features play for 3-7 players.
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Between Two Cities is a partnership-driven tile-drafting game in which each tile represents part of a city: factory, shop, park, landmarks, etc. You work with the player on your left to design the heart of one city, and with the player on your right to design the heart of another city. On each turn you select two tiles from hand, reveal them, then work with your partners separately to place one of those tiles into each of your two cities before passing the remaining hand of tiles around the table.
At the end of the game, each city is scored for its livability. Your final score is the lower of the livability scores of the two cities you helped design. To win, you have to share your attention and your devotion between two cities. The player with the highest final score wins the game.
The game features play for 3-7 players.

Ratings & Reviews

3.8 out of 5 with 4 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Between Two Cities is a partnership-driven tile-drafting game in which each tile represents part of a city: factory, shop, park, landmarks, and more. You work with the player on your left to design one city and the player on your right for another. On each turn, you select two tiles, reveal them, and work with your partners to place them. To win, you must share your devotion between two cities, as your final score is the lower of the two livability scores.

Features

3-7 player support

Solo mode vs AI

Online multiplayer

Official Stonemaier Games license

Fast 20-minute play sessions

Tips

How to Score High

Prioritize diversity in your city. Shops score better in rows, while factories want to be the most numerous in the game. Parks are best when grouped together, and residential areas want variety in their surrounding tile types.

News on this game

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Gameplays

Drafting and Placement

Pick two tiles from your hand. Place one in your left city and one in your right city. You must communicate with your partners to ensure the tiles fit the specific scoring patterns for maximum livability.